Tactical 434-km SrinagarOfficials said the Leh National Highway was reopened for vehicular traffic on Saturday in a record time of 73 days from its closure in January this year. This comes in the wake of warmer temperatures and less snowfall, the strategic Zojila Pass. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh The road connecting Ladakh to the rest of the country through roadlinks has been opened by the Border Roads Organization (BRO).
Zojila is a strategic pass which provides an important link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, and this is the key to the operational preparedness of the armed forces. It is mostly closed for six months due to heavy snowfall. This year, it was cleared in record time, he said.
BRO Director General Lt Gen Rajeev Choudhary opened the highway for traffic at the Zojila Pass, located at an altitude of 11,650 feet, officials said. A trial movement was successfully conducted, and the decision to open the road to civilian traffic would be taken after a joint inspection by the civil administration.
“This pass is mostly closed for six months. But last year, we decided to keep it closed for the shortest possible time. We had kept it closed for about 110 days last year and it had many benefits. This year We opened the road again in -73 days,” said Lt Gen Choudhary PTI,
He said the highway was kept open till January 4 this year, after which it was closed for traffic after heavy snowfall. He said, “It has now been reopened in record time. It is a great achievement and Project Beacon, which manages the highway at JK, and Project Vijayak, which manages it in Ladakh UT, have both made it has done.”
The DG of BRO said that the early reopening of the highway has many benefits from strategic and socio-economic point of view.
“From a strategic point of view, maintenance including ammunition, logistics or anything else for our troops stationed in Ladakh will now arrive on time. It will also speed up the transportation of fresh vegetables, medicines etc. to the people of Ladakh. Increase commerce, and people are very happy,” he said.
Lt Gen Choudhary said a study has found that the government can save 7 crore per day by opening the road soon.
“We saved about By reopening the road – Rs 400 crore – money was spent on air transport,” he said. A defense spokesperson said the snow clearance operation on the highway was launched on February 15 by BRO’s Beacon and Vijayak projects.
After sustained efforts, connectivity at the Zojila Pass was initially established on March 3, and after that, the road surface was improved for safe passage of vehicles, he said.
(with inputs from agencies)
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